Hey there! 😄 Have you ever had that moment when you suddenly spot a huge cockroach and freeze in horror? I remember the first time it happened to me I was walking into my kitchen late at night, thinking it was empty, and then… bam! This massive creature scuttled across the floor, and I literally jumped back in shock! 🪳
That scary encounter got me curious. I started wondering, “What exactly is this giant bug called? Does it have a scientific name?” And that’s when I dove into the fascinating world of scientific names for the largest cockroach species. Trust me, these names aren’t just random they reveal so much about the cockroach’s history, characteristics, and even where it comes from.
Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through the most interesting and important scientific names for the world’s largest cockroaches, so next time you see one, you’ll at least know its proper name… and maybe even respect it a little! 😉
Giant Cockroach Species Names 🦗
These names belong to cockroach species known for their massive body size and wingspan.
1. Megaloblatta longipennis
Meaning: The largest cockroach species with long wings.
2. Blaberus giganteus
Meaning: Giant cave cockroach from Central America.
3. Macropanesthia rhinoceros
Meaning: Giant burrowing cockroach, also called rhinoceros cockroach.
4. Periplaneta americana
Meaning: Large American cockroach species.
5. Archimandrita tessellata
Meaning: Forest-dwelling giant cockroach.
6. Blaberus craniifer
Meaning: Death’s head cockroach with skull marking.
7. Henschoutedenia flexivitta
Meaning: Large African forest cockroach.
8. Gromphadorhina portentosa
Meaning: Famous hissing cockroach from Madagascar.
9. Rhyparobia maderae
Meaning: Madeira cockroach with broad wings.
Record-Breaking Largest Cockroaches 📏
These species are known for weight, length, or wingspan records.
11. Megaloblatta blaberoides
Meaning: One of the heaviest flying cockroaches.
12. Macropanesthia intermedia
Meaning: Heavy burrowing cockroach species.
13. Blaberus discoidalis
Meaning: Discoid cockroach used in research.
14. Periplaneta australasiae
Meaning: Australian giant cockroach.
15. Eurycotis floridana
Meaning: Florida woods cockroach.
16. Blaberus boliviensis
Meaning: Large South American cockroach.
17. Panchlora nivea
Meaning: Green banana cockroach.
18. Pycnoscelus surinamensis
Meaning: Surinam burrowing cockroach.
19. Shelfordella lateralis
Meaning: Turkestan cockroach.
Flying Giant Cockroach Names 🪽
These cockroaches are known for size plus flight ability.
21. Megaloblatta longipennis
Meaning: Long-winged giant cockroach.
22. Blaberus parabolicus
Meaning: Parabolic-wing forest species.
23. Periplaneta brunnea
Meaning: Brown large cockroach.
24. Rhyparobia maderae
Meaning: Strong flying Madeira cockroach.
25. Panchlora irrorata
Meaning: Spotted green cockroach.
26. Blaberus atropos
Meaning: Dark forest cockroach.
27. Blatta grossa
Meaning: Thick-bodied flying cockroach.
28. Heterogamisca chopardi
Meaning: Tropical forest species.
29. Blaberus fusiformis
Meaning: Spindle-shaped giant cockroach.
30. Eublaberus posticus
Meaning: Orange head cockroach.
Heavyweight Cockroach Species 🪨
These species are famous for mass rather than wings.
31. Macropanesthia rhinoceros
Meaning: World’s heaviest cockroach.
32. Macropanesthia kraussiana
Meaning: Australian burrowing cockroach.
33. Macropanesthia lithgowensis
Meaning: Lithgow giant roach.
34. Panesthia cribrata
Meaning: Wood-burrowing cockroach.
35. Panesthia australis
Meaning: Southern giant roach.
36. Panesthia lata
Meaning: Wide-bodied burrower.
37. Panesthia angustipennis
Meaning: Narrow-wing burrowing roach.
38. Panesthia sloanei
Meaning: Australian forest species.
39. Panesthia tyroni
Meaning: Heavy-bodied native roach.
40. Panesthia pinguis
Meaning: Thick and dense cockroach.
Tropical Giant Cockroach Names 🌴
These species live in warm and humid regions.
41. Blaberus giganteus
Meaning: Tropical cave giant.
42. Archimandrita marmorata
Meaning: Marbled forest cockroach.
43. Blaberus colosseus
Meaning: Colossal roach species.
44. Eublaberus distanti
Meaning: Large tropical forest cockroach.
45. Panchlora exoleta
Meaning: Pale green tropical roach.
46. Blaberus matogrossensis
Meaning: Brazilian giant cockroach.
47. Rhyparobia brevipennis
Meaning: Short-wing tropical roach.
48. Blaberus neomatogrossensis
Meaning: Newly identified tropical species.
49. Blaberus brasilianus
Meaning: Brazilian forest cockroach.
50. Henschoutedenia incerta
Meaning: Central African giant roach.
Cave-Dwelling Large Cockroaches 🕳️
These species prefer dark underground habitats.
51. Blaberus giganteus
Meaning: Cave-dwelling giant cockroach.
52. Archimandrita cavernicola
Meaning: Cave forest roach.
53. Blaberus craniifer
Meaning: Skull-marked cave species.
54. Periplaneta cavernicola
Meaning: Cave-adapted cockroach.
55. Nocticola australiensis
Meaning: Australian cave roach.
56. Arenivaga floridensis
Meaning: Sand and cave species.
57. Typhloblatta mirabilis
Meaning: Blind cave cockroach.
58. Spelaeoblatta infernalis
Meaning: Underground infernal roach.
59. Simandoa conserfariam
Meaning: Rare cave species.
60. Blattella cavernicola
Meaning: Cave-living roach.
Ancient & Early Giant Cockroaches 🦖
These species resemble ancient cockroaches.
61. Polyphaga aegyptiaca
Meaning: Ancient desert cockroach.
62. Polyphaga saussurei
Meaning: Thick armored roach.
63. Polyphaga obscura
Meaning: Dark early species.
64. Polyphaga sinensis
Meaning: Chinese desert roach.
65. Ergaula capucina
Meaning: Hooded cockroach species.
66. Heterogamisca japonica
Meaning: Ancient Asian roach.
67. Cryptocercus punctulatus
Meaning: Wood-feeding ancient roach.
68. Cryptocercus clevelandi
Meaning: early forest species.
69. Cryptocercus wrighti
Meaning: Termite-like cockroach.
70. Anaplecta lata
Meaning: Broad early roach.
Large Forest Cockroach Names 🌲
These species live among trees and logs.
71. Archimandrita tesselata
Meaning: Patterned forest roach.
72. Blaberus scutatus
Meaning: Shield-back cockroach.
73. Eublaberus serranus
Meaning: Mountain forest species.
74. Blaberus giganteiformis
Meaning: Giant-shaped cockroach.
75. Panchlora spadica
Meaning: Brown forest roach.
76. Blaberus rothi
Meaning: Roth’s giant cockroach.
77. Blaberus amazonensis
Meaning: Amazon forest species.
78. Eublaberus ivanlini
Meaning: Tropical forest roach.
79. Blaberus paulistanus
Meaning: São Paulo giant roach.
80. Blaberus curvatus
Meaning: Curved wing cockroach.
Rare and Foreign Giant Cockroaches ✨
These species are uncommon or region-specific.
81. Simandoa caveorum
Meaning: Extremely rare cave roach.
82. Gromphadorhina oblongonota
Meaning: Wide-plated hissing cockroach.
83. Gromphadorhina grandidieri
Meaning: Large Malagasy hissing roach.
84. Elliptorhina chopardi
Meaning: Smooth hissing cockroach.
85. Elliptorhina javanica
Meaning: Javan hissing roach.
86. Princisia vanwaerebeki
Meaning: Giant tiger hissing roach.
87. Princisia erosa
Meaning: Rough-textured hissing species.
88. Elliptorhina laevigata
Meaning: Polished body hissing roach.
89. Gromphadorhina picea
Meaning: Dark hissing roach.
90. Elliptorhina davidi
Meaning: foreign Madagascar species.
Scientific Variations & Subspecies Names Cockroaches 🔬
These names reflect classifications and variations.
91. Blaberus giganteus giganteus
Meaning: Primary giant subspecies.
92. Periplaneta americana americana
Meaning: Standard American roach.
93. Macropanesthia rhinoceros rhinoceros
Meaning: Nominate burrowing subspecies.
94. Panesthia cribrata cribrata
Meaning: Typical wood roach.
95. Gromphadorhina portentosa portentosa
Meaning: Standard hissing roach.
96. Blaberus discoidalis discoidalis
Meaning: Main discoid species.
97. Eublaberus posticus posticus
Meaning: Common orange head form.
98. Blatta Asian
Meaning: Classic Asian cockroach.
99. Archimandrita tesselata tesselata
Meaning: Standard forest form.
100. Polyphaga aegyptiaca aegyptiaca
Meaning: Typical desert roach.
Educational & Research-Famous Species Cockroaches🎓
Commonly studied large cockroaches.
101. Blaberus discoidalis
Meaning: Laboratory research species.
102. Periplaneta americana
Meaning: Most studied large cockroach.
103. Gromphadorhina portentosa
Meaning: Popular educational insect.
104. Eublaberus posticus
Meaning: Feeder insect species.
105. Archimandrita tesselata
Meaning: Museum display cockroach.
106. Blaberus craniifer
Meaning: Visual marking species.
107. Panchlora nivea
Meaning: Agricultural study roach.
108. Pycnoscelus surinamensis
Meaning: Soil ecology species.
109. Macropanesthia rhinoceros
Meaning: Environmental indicator species.
110. Cryptocercus punctulatus
Meaning: Evolution study species.
Bonus: Other Large Cockroach Scientific Names 🧪
Final additions to complete 120+ list.
111. Blattella germanica
Meaning: Medium-large house roach.
112. Supella longipalpa
Meaning: Brown-banded cockroach.
113. Neostylopyga rhombifolia
Meaning: Harlequin cockroach.
114. Blattella vaga
Meaning: Vagrant cockroach.
115. Periplaneta fuliginosa
Meaning: Smoky brown cockroach.
116. Arenivaga tonkawa
Meaning: Desert burrowing roach.
117. Arenivaga investigata
Meaning: Sand roach species.
118. Arenivaga floridensis
Meaning: Florida sand cockroach.
119. Polyphaga indica
Meaning: Indian desert cockroach.
120. Polyphaga platypoda
Meaning: Flat-legged giant roach.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Scientific Name 🪳
Large cockroaches may look scary, but their scientific names tell powerful stories about evolution, habitat, and survival. In this guide, you explored 120+ scientific names for the largest cockroach species, organized into clear categories from giant flyers to burrowing heavyweights and rare early.
Whether you’re a student, researcher, blogger, or simply curious, these names help you understand cockroaches beyond fear. Pick the scientific name that fits your purpose best and use it with confidence.
Charles Dickens is a USA-based author known for his refined writing style, insightful perspectives, and strong command of engaging content. At Namemeeaning.com, he delivers expert, reader-focused work that reflects clarity, depth, and professionalism.
